Jason Tabansky reaches long-awaited dream of Paralympic Games after late pullout

ATHLETE SPOTLIGHT is presented by WIAWIS.

A little over a week ago, Paris 2024 was a harrowing symbol of unfulfillment for Jason Tabansky. Now it’s a dream come true.

Having picked up a bow nine years ago, Tabansky has competed in all the major competitions para archery has to offer, apart from the big one, the Paralympic Games.

An unfortunate pull-out from Australia’s Christopher Davis due to injury, however meant a late slot was open for the next highest ranked athlete in W1 man and luckily for Tabansky it was him. 

The US archer was not at home when he received the news but in Czech Republic at the most recent para world ranking event.

Location didn’t matter for the overjoyed Tabansky though, who will be travelling to Les Invalides this summer with the rest of team USA for his maiden Paralympics.

“It’s been strange. That was the culmination of all the anticipation,” said Tabansky who was made aware before confirmation of the slot that Davis had pulled out.

“There were a lot of emotions coming out. It’s been a long journey, eight years of preparation for this. I’ve had a strong last year, sprinkled in with some injuries and a couple of other things that set me back.”

“All of that just came pouring out.”

Tabansky is a former Chinook helicopter mechanic, crewmember and flight instructor for the US military and began his career in para archery after a life changing spinal cord injury whilst on duty, losing his ability to walk.

The Texas-born hasn’t looked back since discovering his new found love of archery after the accident, winning 13 medals in seven major international competitions to date including four golds in the 2022 and 2024 Pan American Para Championships and individual silver in the 2023 Para Pan American Games.

The veteran made sure to say that his progress in para archery is not solely down to him but the result of a team effort.

“My wife has been with me through this whole journey. Her going to events with me and helping me train, helping me being able to succeed in just getting to a tournament has been huge,” he said.

“Matt Stutzman‘s been there for me when it comes to technical questions, how to set up and try things.”

As he progressed in the team, Eric Bennett has been another major pillar that has been there for him and Kevin Polish.

“What can I say? He’s been a great help especially now that I’m shooting with a Mathews bow, and he knows them inside out.”

“Those guys have been pillars for me on my journey.”

There is little time to indulge in appreciation for Tabansky however. The 40-year-old is currently planning out his training schedule for the next six weeks before Paralympic action starts on 28 August. 

Due to high temperatures in his home state of Texas, he will be speaking to local business owners in the next few days, trying to incorporate indoor shooting in warehouses.

The W1 men’s world number three, though, has been prioritising his mental wellbeing over shooting the past 12 months and plans to do the same in this camp for Paris. 

“I’m working with a sports psychologist and a mental coach in two separate positions so, that’s been putting me in a really good spot.”

After he came out of a match in Chile last year feeling a little upset because he did not shoot how he knew he could have, he sought out help, got his head screwed on right and then he was able to go to Dubai, shoot really well there, and then go to Brazil to get the job done.

“I think my head is in the best spot I could possibly be in right now,” Tabansky added. “That’s going to be something I’m going to work harder these next six weeks on.”

The upcoming intensified training means Tabansky will have to put his other endeavours in archery on hold for the time being.

The two-time Para Pan American Champion has been picking up his archery coaching badges along the way, running training sessions in youth programmes in Texas one of which included Jordan White, the 15-year-old phenomenon who will be going to Paris this summer for USA as one of the competition’s youngest athletes.

As well as doing it out of charity, Tabansky believes it is a necessity for senior archers like him to carry on the torch of US archery to the next generation.

“I’ve discussed with a lot of the people that have been on the USA team for a while like Lisa Coryell and Andre Shelby that we’re not going to be here forever, and we can’t do this for a long time so, we’ve got to cultivate our replacements and get them in the right position and take them down the right path.”

Tabansky’s role on the board of directors for USA Archery and as a para committee member for World Archery Americas will also have to take a backseat in the run up to Paris. 

He has a huge passion to work behind the scenes as well on the field to improve para archery and encourage as many people as possible to take the growing sport up.

“Having athletes like Juan Diego Blas Fernández, myself, Daniela Cecilia Campos Marzano on these commissions, we can put those ideas versus somebody that’s able-bodied and deciding for us.”

“It’s nothing against them, it’s something that they won’t be able to see from our level.”

Paris 2024 therefore will not only be a chance for Tabansky to taste the feeling of para archery’s most coveted competition but also the chance to view the state of the sport and what needs to be done next to take it to the next level for LA28.

The catchphrase ‘The harder you work, the luckier you get’ seems to have been proven by Tabansky. This luck now gives him the opportunity to fulfil his dream of being a Paralympian.

USA team for the 2024 Paralympics

• Recurve men: Jordan White, Eric Bennett
• Compound men: Matt Stutzman, Kevin Polish
• W1 women: Tracy Otto
• W1 men: Jason Tabansky